Support for tools and small articles

ABSTRACT

A support for hand tools and small articles features a wallmounted support panel and readily detachable tray and support elements which require no separate fasteners for attaching the same to the panel. The device knocks down readily for packaging.

United States Patent Anne M. Searcy Thomasville, Ga. 49,840

June 25, 1970 Dec. 28, 1971 Handy Anne, Inc. Thomasville, Ga.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee SUPPORT FOR TOOLS AND SMALL ARTICLES 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 211/88 Int. Cl A471 5/08 Field 01' Search ..211/88, 126

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1906 Stumm 1,536,906 5/1925 248/205 1,608,266 11/1926 211/88 1,747,642 2/1930 211/88 2,347,892 5/1944 Derman 211/88 3,113,996 12/1963 Sanford Primary ExaminerNile C. Byers, .lr. Attorney-B. P. Fishburne, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A support for hand tools and small articles features a wall-mounted support panel and readily detachable tray and support elements which require no separate fasteners for attaching the same to the panel. The device knocks down readily for packaging.

PATENTEnueczmen 3.630.385

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR ANNE M. SEARCY l6 fi-w ATTORNEY gmmlwu 25 lg 2 3 INVENTOR k. ANNE M. 'SEARCY ATTORNEY SUPPORT FOR TOOLS AND SMALL ARTICLES A variety of supports are known to the prior art for supporting small articles including tools. A common problem with a number of the prior art devices is bulkiness which results in expensive packaging and shipment and storage costs because of the space occupied. Also, some of the prior art devices are complex to assemble and require the use of screws for fastening the parts together and hence do not appeal to the householder.

With these defects in mind, the aim of the invention is to improve upon the prior art by the provision of a support structure for hand tools and the like which is characterized by extreme simplicity and compactness, ease of assembly without the necessity for screws or like fasteners and extreme economy of manufacturing and packaging. The support lends itself admirably to being molded from plastics materials, such as high impact plastics. When the device is assembled for use, the support panel being arranged vertically on a wall takes ad vantage of gravity in the attachment of the separable trays and support pins. That is to say, these elements have no tendency due to gravity to become separated or dislodged from the panel and once they are pressed into place frictionally within openings in the panel, they tend to remain in place.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a support structure embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the support structure.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the structure taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 7- 7 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals designate like parts, the numeral 10 designates a lightweight thin-walled preferably molded plastic support panel or body which is approximately rectangular and which has a flat frontal face. At its margin, the support panel 10 has a rearwardly facing continuous edge flange or bead ll integral therewith which directly abuts the face of a wall 12 upon which the support is mounted. A narrow cavity 13 is formed between the wall and the rear face of the panel 10 because of the provision of the flange 11. The flange adds materially to the stiffness or rigidity of the panel. The panel 10 is provided at least near its upper corners with openings 14 which receive suitable fasteners 15 for attaching the support to the wall, FIG. 2. The panel 10 may be produced in any desired color to match decorator schemes in a kitchen or the like where the housewife may desire to install the device.

As shown clearly in FIG. 3, the panel 10 has a pair of rectangular horizontally elongated openings or slots 16 formed therethrough in vertically spaced relation with one slot disposed near the lower edge of the panel and the upper slot disposed near its vertical center, and both slots offset toward one vertical edge of the panel. Near one upper corner of the panel 10, the same is provided with a pair of laterally spaced circular openings 17 of equal size.

A first molded plastic tray 18 of generally rectangular configuration is received snugly with a slight frictional fit within the upper slot 16 and this first tray has a bottom wall 19, a front marginal wall 20, and a backwall 21, all integrally molded. At its rear side, the tray 18 has outwardly projecting relatively thin flanges 22 integral therewith which are offset rearwardly from the wall 21 by the amount of their thickness. These flanges abut the rear surface of the support panel 10 within the narrow cavity 13, FIG. 5, and also substantially contact the wall 12. As shown clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, the backwall 21 of the tray 18 is positioned within the slot or opening 16 in such a manner as to constitute a part of the wall of panel 10. That is to say, the opposite faces of the wall 21 are flush with the opposite faces of the panel 10, making the assembly smooth and compact. The tray 18 has a central flanged relatively large opening 23 for the support of pliers 24 or some like tool and near its ends has smaller flanged openings 25 and 26 for the support of implements such as a screw driver 27 and a punch 28, see FIG. 2. The one-piece tray 18 is readily removable rearwardly from the slot 16 at any desired time but cannot move forwardly because of the engagement of the flanges 22 rearwardly of the panel 10. When the assembly is hung on a wall, gravity assists in maintaining the parts together and there is no requirement for anymetal fasteners or the like.

A pair of slightly tapered hollow generally cylindrical pin elements 29 are adapted to enter the two openings 17 snugly and with a friction fit so that they will be stable in assembly, but allowing ready separation of the pin elements from the panel when desired. The pin elements have rear end radial flanges 30 integral therewith which, like the flanges 22, abut the rear of panel 10 and lie in the cavity 13 between the panel and the wall 12. These flanges limit forward movement of the pin element 29 when they are placed in the openings 17 and pushed forwardly. The pin elements 29 are used for the support of a hammer or the like whose handle, not shown, engages between the pin elements while the crosshead of the hammer rests upon the pin elements. Other similar objects may be supported.

A second tray 31 broadly similar to the tray 18 is provided for engagement in the second slot 16 near the bottom of the panel 10. This second tray is adapted to receive screws, washers, nuts, or any other small parts used around the home. The tray 31 has rear flanges 32 identical to the flanges 22 and likewise engaging behind the panel 10 in assembly and lying in the space 13 so that the rear wall 33 of the second tray lies in the plane of the panel, FIG. 5.

As alreadypointed out, the parts of the device may be quickly assembled or disassembled and no screws or fasteners are required. The parts are all formed of molded plastics and the construction is highly economical and has a pleasing appearance. The construction of the device renders it easy to knock down for storage or shipment in the most compact manner.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangementof parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claimsv Iclaim:

1. A support for hand tools and the like comprising a thin platelike body portion adapted to be mounted vertically on a wall surface, said platelike body portion having a marginal flange extending around its perimeter and projecting rearwardly thereof and said flange adapted to abut a wall surface and forming between the body portion and wall surface a shallow compartment which is concealed from view during use of the support, said body portion having at least one horizontally elongated rectangular slot formed therethrough and having at least a pair of circular openings formed therethrough in spaced relation to said slot, a tray element engageable frictionally within the slot and secured therein by friction and projecting beyond the forward face of the body portion and adapted to support tools and the like, the tray element having a rear vertical wall which lies within said slot and substantially fills the slot and said wall being substantially flush with the front and rear faces of the body portion, a pair of end flanges on the tray element offset rearwardly from said wall of the tray element and abutting the rear face of the body portion when the tray element is assembled therewith, said flanges then disposed bodily within said shallow compartment and positioned between the body portion and the adjacent face of the wall, and a pair of laterally spaced supporting pin elements ensaid tray element and pin elements being readily separable gage-able frictionally within said openings and having rear end from the body portion. flanges which abut the rear face of the body portion surround- The smlcml'e of claim and Said Portion, y

ment and pin element all formed of molded plastics.

ing said openings and which lie bodily in said compartment 5 a s t s a between the rear face of the body portion and said wall face, 

1. A support for hand tools and the like comprising a thin platelike body portion adapted to be mounted vertically on a wall surface, said platelike body portion having a marginal flange extending around its perimeter and projecting rearwardly thereof and said flange adapted to abut a wall surface and forming between the body portion and wall surface a shallow compaRtment which is concealed from view during use of the support, said body portion having at least one horizontally elongated rectangular slot formed therethrough and having at least a pair of circular openings formed therethrough in spaced relation to said slot, a tray element engageable frictionally within the slot and secured therein by friction and projecting beyond the forward face of the body portion and adapted to support tools and the like, the tray element having a rear vertical wall which lies within said slot and substantially fills the slot and said wall being substantially flush with the front and rear faces of the body portion, a pair of end flanges on the tray element offset rearwardly from said wall of the tray element and abutting the rear face of the body portion when the tray element is assembled therewith, said flanges then disposed bodily within said shallow compartment and positioned between the body portion and the adjacent face of the wall, and a pair of laterally spaced supporting pin elements engageable frictionally within said openings and having rear end flanges which abut the rear face of the body portion surrounding said openings and which lie bodily in said compartment between the rear face of the body portion and said wall face, said tray element and pin elements being readily separable from the body portion.
 2. The structure of claim 1, and said body portion, tray element and pin elements all formed of molded plastics. 